Mumbai Police Orders Actor Imran Khan to Depart India

Actor Imran Khan has been asked to leave India days after he joined a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) has served Imran Khan a notice asking him to leave the country by October 28, alleging that he violated the Foreigners Act by joining a protest against Gyanesh Kumar at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai, on October 10.

Imran Khan was detained at the morcha, after which BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a complaint alleging that the actor is a United States (US) citizen and had breached the Act by taking part in the demonstration. "A complaint was filed at Gamdevi police station stating that Khan had breached the Foreigners Act.

The complaint was forwarded to FRRO department," the police said. ALSO READ | Can Imran Khan be deported for joining CJP protest? What OCI rules say The FRRO then issued the notice. "The FRRO notice states that he is a resident of the USA and he has violated the act and has been asked to leave the country by October 28," an officer said on condition of anonymity.

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, foreign nationals of Indian origin, get a lifelong visa but can’t vote or contest elections. OCI rules don’t expressly require prior permission to attend a public protest. But Article 19’s guarantees of free speech and peaceful assembly apply only to citizens.

The scheme, introduced in 2005, doesn’t confer Indian citizenship. OCI cardholders remain subject to India’s laws on foreigners and immigration. Under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955, their registration can be cancelled on specified grounds, including sovereignty and security.

A complaint or an alleged visa violation doesn’t by itself establish an offence or justify deportation.